Remodeling Business: Client based vs. Project based

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 21:31 — simhof
Over the last couple of months I have had a lot of opportunities to chat with other remodelers around the country and much of the conversation centers around how we have reacted to the economy. I have talked with more than one remodeler that has decided to take the approach of narrowing their service offering and specializing in certain areas of our industry, such as green, aging in place and others.
 

Shifting Seas

Fri, 12/18/2009 - 00:49 — simhof
I wanted to share some good articles about the ongoing change in the remodeling industry. I have blogged recently about the rising interest in Client Relationship Management as well as measuring and monitoring client satisfaction and while this seems very “101” the majority of remodeling companies don’t have adequate processes and systems to allow them to do it.
 

Case Handyman and Remodeling featured on Remodeling TV

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 00:00 — simhof

The Client Experience

Wed, 11/25/2009 - 20:44 — simhof
Remodeling business success…..how do you measure it?...there are many ways that success is measured but in remodeling, to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage and gain market share we must focus on the client experience. Case franchisees are full service remodelers, which means simply that they offer a complete menu of services to their clients. This approach maiximizes the amount of touches that Case businesses have with their clients and adds equity to the valuation of the business as they client base grows.

Customer Relationship Management in Remodeling

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 23:36 — simhof
 
There has been an increasing volume of discussion about the use of Customer Relationship Management or CRM software in remodeling. Many of the remodeling industry leaders are in the media advising remodelers to get their business organized now so that they can be pro-active as the economy returns. I can lend some credence to this advice from my experience.
 

If you give, you get

Fri, 10/09/2009 - 21:36 — simhof
 

Why I love the remodeling business

Mon, 09/28/2009 - 22:34 — simhof
Let’s face it, We all love the remodeling business. It is likely that there is not a more difficult business to enter and remain successful in than ours. But as the old adage suggests, there is nothing worthwhile that doesn’t involve effort. How many remodelers do you know that have, for example, left the business for a period of time, only to return to the remodeling industry again. Why? What drives our passion and fuels our persistence to prevail in such a tough business? For me, there are some key elements that drive me and they are not necessarily in order:

Part Two (6-10) of Ten Things to consider if you are thinking about going into a Franchise business relationship.

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 22:57 — simhof
Qualify yourself: Take full advantage of any qualification tools that the franchisor provides, especially on the web and over the phone. For example, at Case we have a remodeling business aptitude test that you can take to see if this business is right for you. Make sure that you meet the minimum qualifications posted and ask the franchisor for examples of successful as well as unsuccessful franchisees. Often times this information will help you get a clearer picture of how you would fare in the business.

Part One (1-5) of Ten Things to consider if you are thinking about going into a Franchise business relationship.

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 22:25 — simhof
 
Are you community oriented? If you work best on your own a franchise organization may not be your best bet. While all entrepreneurs should be able to make it happen on their own, franchise organizations thrive on sharing victories and defeats, best practices and lessons learned and above all a unified passion to build their local franchise business as well as the collective brand. Case Franchisees are particularly open and often share and communicate with each other.
 

Case Handyman and Remodeling LLC leverages Franchise Area Representation for growth

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 04:53 — simhof
 
A strong Franchise organization is one where the Franchisor and Franchisees maximize synergies. One area of synergy that Case Handyman and Remodeling is employing is in Area Representation. Area Representation involves the Franchisor and the Franchisee teaming up to build the Brand in specific market areas. The Franchise Community benefits in many ways from this type of effort. So what does an Area Representative do?